SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- A champion figure skater and University of Minnesota student had to put her dreams to compete in the Olympics on pause after a devastating injury last summer.<\/p>\n
Now, she's back on the ice at Shakopee Ice Arena thanks to determination and a physical therapist who put in the extra work to get her there.<\/p>\n
Eugenia Garza started her week practicing at Shakopee Ice Arena. She did endless spins, jumps and dips, a moment that felt impossible to get back to last July. <\/p>\n
\"I was doing a program, one of my routines, and I just hit my toe pick, and I tripped and fell straight on my kneecap,\" Garza said.<\/p>\n
Her journey to represent Mexico, her hometown, at the World University Games came to a complete stop.<\/p>\n
\"To have all that momentum just stop, just stop and do nothing for three months while you heal,\" Garza said.<\/p>\n
This all could have defeated Garza's spirit and drive, if she was left to recover alone.<\/p>\n
\"It was really hard to come back. It felt a little hopeless at times, but I had a great support system,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Part of her support system was Hanwen Wong, a physical therapist at M Health Fairview. As a former dancer, Wong knew this sport needed a specific treatment plan to bounce back to peak performance.<\/p>\n
\"Eugenia is actually my first figure skater [patient],\" said Wong, \"I did my homework, I watched videos, I asked her as many specific questions as I could, like when you're landing this particular jump, are you on this side of your foot, or the inside, where is your weight?\" <\/p>\n
Both Wong and Garza commited to healing and being back to peak performance level, and it worked. <\/p>\n
\"It made me feel a lot more confident that we were going to get me back to a place where I was ready to go compete,\" Garza said.<\/p>\n
Her coach, Lorie Charbonneau, was amazed by her turnaround.<\/p>\n
\"To see her skating skills and even the spins still at a world-class level, is really remarkable,\" Charbonneau said.<\/p>\n
Next up for Garza is that she'll be competing in the Mexican Open International in May. Her long-term goal is to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
Marielle Mohs is thrilled to be telling stories in her home state of Minnesota. She grew up in Eden Prairie and South Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
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Read more from the original source:<\/p>\n
U of M ice skater, recovering from devastating knee injury, has her sights set on Olympic glory - CBS News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- A champion figure skater and University of Minnesota student had to put her dreams to compete in the Olympics on pause after a devastating injury last summer. Continue reading